M agazine West Allegheny Edition Volume 23, Issue 135 December 2021/January 2022 FREE Direct Mail Community Publication One of 4 editions serving 17 airport area communities www.awmagazine.com West Allegheny School District Official Newsletter Inside Page 31 Allegheny West Elementary Holiday Coloring Contest page 24 WACL board member honored with Difference Maker Award West A grads making it in show business West Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame inducts ninth class PIT Terminal Modernization Program moving forward New Southern Beltway section opens Page 38December 2021/January 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 34 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2021/January 2022 WACL board member honored with Difference Maker Award West A grads making it in show business West Allegheny Athletic Hall of Fame inducts ninth class PIT Terminal Modernization Program moving forward Southern Beltway section opens Holiday Coloring Contest WA Today Holiday Happenings Guide Dear Readers, I’d like to start this message by thanking all the West Allegheny elementary students who once again submitted artwork to this year’s elementary holiday coloring contest. We asked students to design the cover of our December holiday edition and they did not disappoint. We chose our favorite for the cover and a handful from each grade to print on our centerfold. Check those out on page 24. In this edition as well, we’re bringing you our rundown of holiday events taking place across our coverage areas this holiday season. It’s a great feeling to see many of these events taking place again after so many were canceled last year due to COVID-19. That would seem to indicate that we are heading in the right direction with regards to this pandemic. Read more on page 38. On page 31, read the latest news coming out of West Allegheny School District. Then read about the new Terminal Modernization Program at Pittsburgh International Airport on page 20 and a couple of uplifting stories about West Allegheny graduates landing roles in show business on page 12. On page 9, get caught up on news from our readers and, on page 14, read what’s coming up at the Western Allegheny Community Library. Look for our next edition in February. Until then, I hope you have a memorable and safe holiday season. Doug Hughey, Publisher/Editor From the Publisher West Allegheny Edition ~ December 2021/January 2022 Volume 23, No. 135 { } Contents - - - - - - - - 9 12 18 20 22 24 31 38 Allegheny West Magazine-West Allegheny Edition is published in February, April, June, August, October, and December, six issues a year, Hughey Publications, LLC, P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057. Mailed and distributed free to residents and businesses in Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon, a portion of McDonald, and adjacent areas. Extra copies available at municipal offices, schools, libraries, stores, advertisers, hotels, and businesses. Available by mail subscription for $15 annually. Story ideas welcomed. Community events and announcements from non-profit groups must be received by the 15th of the month prior to publishing date. Announcements are limited to 30 words and must include a contact phone number. Reproduction of any artwork, photographs, or copy prepared by Allegheny West Magazine is strictly prohibited without written consent of Hughey Publications, LLC. Copyright 1999- 2021 Allegheny West Magazine. All rights reserved. Views and opinions expressed by contributors and/or advertisers are the responsibility of the contributors and not those of the publisher of Allegheny West Magazine. P. O. Box 220, McDonald, PA 15057 Phone: 724.673.3161 E-Mail: info@awmagazine.com www.awmagazine.com WE PROUDLY SPONSOR AND SUPPORT: A variety of community, school, and nonprofit organizations in our coverage areas of Cornell, Moon, Montour, and West Allegheny. We are committed to recycling our used and left- over products. We encourage our readers to be responsible and dispose of this magazine when finished enjoying it. Consider passing it along to someone else, or placing it in your neighborhood recycling bins. Thank you in advance for doing your part for our earth. Hughey Publications, LLC also publishes the Moon edition of Allegheny West Magazine, the Cornell edition of Allegheny West Magazine and the Montour edition of Allegheny West Magazine. MEMBER Allegheny West Magazine - West Allegheny, is an all positive, good news publication mailed free into the homes and businesses of the West Allegheny School District communities of Findlay, North Fayette, Oakdale, Sturgeon and McDonald to connect communities, promote people, heighten awareness about the richness of the airport region, and build pride in the western suburbs of Allegheny County. Allegheny West Magazine Doug Hughey Jill Bordo Pat Jennette Garret Roberts Sarah Kizina www.ddswebdesign.com Erma Dodd Pat Jennette Columns Locally Sourced - Chamber Link - Library Programs - Around Your Town - Your Schools - On the Horizon - Penned by Erma - 8 10 14 18 26 45 46 West Allegheny elementary fifth-grader Avery Boyce created this drawing for our holiday coloring contest. Each year, we ask elementary students to create the cover of our December edition and we choose one for our cover. We were impressed with Avery’s sense of design, composition and overall execution. There were many great submissions this year, and though we couldn’t print all of them, we did choose a handful from each grade to run on our centerfold. Check those out on page 24. We are grateful for all of the wonderful submissions we received. Thank you, West Allegheny elementary students! December 2021/January 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 56 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2021/January 2022 December 2021/January 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 7%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced WA Class of 1956 celebrates 65th reunion Members of the West Allegheny Class of 1956 celebrated their 65th reunion at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott on Oct. 16. Eight class members came together and had a pleasant dinner in the rear of the hotel restaurant. This marked the class’ 65th reunion. Over the years, class members have gathered every five years for a get-together of various sizes. A pleasant time was had by all. West Allegheny Class of 1956 members who came together Oct. 16 included (rear) Walter Lynn, Kenneth Hughes, (front) Norita Franchek Kubatka, Sue Thomson Dellapina, Betty Long Kletzli, Dianne Clark Thomson, Kathy Bartos Cain and Anges Austin Study. PHOTO BY DOUG HUGHEY Allegheny West Magazine welcomes submissions of positive, local news for its Locally Sourced section. To submit a story for Locally Sourced, contact us at (724) 673-3161 or at info@awmagazine.com. Clearview Federal Credit Union fought hunger during Hunger Action Month in September by supporting Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. The credit union’s efforts included donating $6,000 and over 550 pounds of food collected in local communities. Clearview also raised $543 by selling t-shirts to support Hunger Action Month in Pittsburgh and staff volunteered 150 hours at local food pantries. During two team volunteering days at Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Clearview’s executive leadership team and marketing department AVPs donated their time as well. The bank’s volunteer hours resulted in the packing of 2,600 boxes of food and the total funds raised will help provide over 30,000 meals to the southwestern Pennsylvania region through the food bank. “Hunger Action Month is a time to bring awareness for and take actions to address hunger in the community,” said Jennifer Zgurich, director of corporate and community giving at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. “Clearview Federal Credit Union is an incredible partner in addressing the needs of our neighbors facing hunger. The actions they took during Hunger Action Month have made a significant difference for our community.” The month-long effort was inspired by the growing number of people facing food insecurity in the region. It was also a continued part of Clearview’s partnership with the food bank. Clearview will continue to raise funds for the food bank through the end of 2021 via its online donation platform and shirt sales. “We are grateful for our partnership with the Food Bank. Our Hunger Action Month initiative was a collaboration from our staff, the Food Bank, and the communities that we serve. I am proud of this effort from our team here at Clearview as it brought so many people together to help people enjoy a better life,” said Ron Celaschi, President and CEO of Clearview. Clearview helps provide over 30,000 meals during Hunger Action Month The Clearview FCU Executive Leadership Team and AVPs volunteer at Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. At center is Ron Celaschi, Clearview president and CEO. CONTENT SUBMITTED 8 • Allegheny West Magazine • December 2021/January 2022%Locally SourcedLocally Sourced Longtime WACL board member Pam Perry is recognized with a District 1 Difference Maker Award by Allegheny County Councilman Tom Baker. The two are pictured with North Fayette Township Supervisors Bob Doddato and Jim Morosetti. December 2021/January 2022 • www.awmagazine.com • 9 Allegheny County Councilman Tom Baker honored Pam Perry with a 2021 District 1 Difference Maker Award Winner on Oct. 18. The award recognizes Perry’s many efforts in the community, including her 19-year tenure as a member of the Western Allegheny Community Library Board of Directors. Over the past 25 years, Perry has also dedicated countless volunteer hours to many other well- deserving local organizations, including the Donaldson PTA, the Girl Scouts and various booster organizations. She also spent nearly a decade teaching Sunday school and serving on various committees such as discipleship and outreach at her church. She continues to serve her church as an elder. As a Girl Scout leader for nearly 18 years, Perry helped cultivate a safe space where young girls were able to try new things, develop a range of skills, and take on leadership roles. Perry oversaw two different troops, guiding a handful of kindergartners through the ranks until they earned their Gold Awards. Additionally, Perry served as a recruiter for the organization, volunteered at “Camporee” and hosted the ever-popular Annual Father Daughter Dance. As a parent dedicated to the education of students, Perry served on the local PTA for nearly a decade and filled many roles. Under her leadership, the organization created many new programs for students, including the popular afterschool enrichment program Donaldson Discovers. Perry was also a member of several local booster organizations, including soccer, cross- country, volleyball, musical theater, and cheerleading. In this capacity, she also served as president and treasurer. At the Western Allegheny Community Library, Perry has served terms as president and vice president. She is currently the board secretary. During her tenure, Perry has proven instrumental, as the library has moved from a small two-room rental space to the beautiful, vibrant building it is in now. She also helped start the library’s Fall for Your Library event, which has become an annual tradition and now raises nearly $60,000 each year to ensure the community has access to the many vital resources it needs and deserves. Baker stated, “Pam Perry’s legacy of service in the community is unrivaled and her commitment to the library is incredibly inspiring. Pam is the definition of the type of community leader we intended to honor when the District 1 Difference Maker Award was created four years ago. Being able to celebrate Pam’s dedication to the community and the library with her board colleagues, North Fayette Township supervisors, and library staff was very special.” WACL board member honored with Difference Maker Award STORY AND PHOTO SUBMITTEDNext >